Good or bad?

[mark]

What do guys think are the good things and bad things about this site and others like it for people just learning hound hunting? Does the good out weigh the bad? Does it cause people to become lazy in the thinking dept.? Are young hunters able to separate and understand what will work for them and their dogs and what wont? Do they ask some questions on here they wouldn't ask someone in person? Do older more more experienced hunters give out advice more freely on here than they would in person? Does it help a young hunter or does it cause more confusion for them? Their are many aspects of hound hunting that mold and form a hunter to what he turns into, is the computer age going to make a different breed of houndsman than the ones of the past and present? Tell me your thoughts on this and any others you can think of. Young hunters,old hunters,and the ones in between.

[Dads dogboy]

Mark,

This is a "Food for Thought" Topic!

Sure glad you thought about it.

As I have said many times, a beginning Bobcat Hunter can find more information on what SHOULD work in his/her area here, than anywhere else that I Know of.

You may have to sort through some BS and EGOMANIA, but still NO where is there more information on the Sport of pursuing a Bobcat with Hounds.

But that is not the BEST feature of this Site.....to me that would be the Like Minded Folks who LOVE Their Hounds that you will meet, and the relationships that can start and grow from this "CONECTIVITY" THING.

[LarryBeggs]

There is no substitute for experience. There is good and bad advise given on here and the smart one will be able to sort it out based on there own experiences. Some people believe every thing they are told and they are going to have trouble especialy if they think they are just going to take all this advise and go out and consistantly start catching game. I personaly think something gets lost when we start watching a race on a gps screen and sitting down every day at the computer. Yet here I am. If we spent as much time learning from our experiences as we do the experiences of others we might be better off. Or would we. I have been doing this all my life and I think I have learned some stuff on here. But my own experiences help me to sort out fact from fiction. No doubt I say more on here than I would in person. Easier to think about what I want to say when I can sit down and write it out. For me I come home and sit down at the computer and wind down. Not a bad thing as long as I get my but up off the chair and take care of my buissiness.

[al baldwin]

Wow Mark, alot for someone who types as slow as me to try to answer. For sure have given out a lot more than ever before. The most interesting to me has been how different hunters have opinions that I never considered. For sure the anti/s have a source for ammunition. My real advice to new comers is to read the opinion of others, but experience is for sure the best teacher. Al

[Unreal_tk]

I think experiences are the best, but sometimes its good to hear other perspectives to set the bar for yourself. Maybe you have good trail dogs, but lacking in treeing. You can ask how to improve this trait without being looked down upon by your peers. Etc.

[Larry Emery]

A lot of both, what gets me is some of the newer guys to the sport that know it all. Experience is by far the best, and to be truthful with yourself and your fellow hunter.

[skot1120]

I started trying too get into hounds hunting 2 years ago. I had a little experiance from coons in high school. Ive tried to get help from the big game communty. Found some not alot. im running a few dog w the smallest amount of sucess each hunt. Due to life doing what life dose my season is lackluster. THIS site Helps me find ideas that are applicable to what im doing everyday exersizing, hunting, kenneling, health, STORIES, PIX. So Please everyone that contributes to the conversations and not the bs.. KEEP it UP! Its VERY helpful

[slowandeasy]

There is no substitute for experience. There is good and bad advise given on here and the smart one will be able to sort it out based on there own experiences. Some people believe every thing they are told and they are going to have trouble especialy if they think they are just going to take all this advise and go out and consistantly start catching game. I personaly think something gets lost when we start watching a race on a gps screen and sitting down every day at the computer. Yet here I am. If we spent as much time learning from our experiences as we do the experiences of others we might be better off. Or would we. I have been doing this all my life and I think I have learned some stuff on here. But my own experiences help me to sort out fact from fiction. No doubt I say more on here than I would in person. Easier to think about what I want to say when I can sit down and write it out. For me I come home and sit down at the computer and wind down. Not a bad thing as long as I get my but up off the chair and take care of my buissiness.

First off, I do not know Larry Beggs. But through the years lurking on this site, and then participating for what that is worth. Both newcomers, and us old timers. When they see his posts. It would behoove you to pay close attention. As from the outside looking in, it would appear to me that he doesn't waste much breath on baloney. Just a tip from an outsider looking it would appear to me. He certainly won't lead you astray.

As for me in regard to this topic. I absolutely feel there is NO substitute for experience. All the modern-day electronics to me. Are just icing on the cake. Sort of like that fine pocket knife that you have. That you have to sharpen, and after using the coarse, and soft whetstone. You finally put it on the superhard fine stone and polish it off. That final hardstone is the category that I put all of our modern-day electronics in. But the course and soft stone are the equivalent of wearing leather boots out in the woods. So I guess it's just my beliefs, that if everything is dull. You can try for a long time to get sharp hounds or a sharp knife on the hard fine stone. And not get the results you looking for.

Take care, Willie

[Redbonehunter12]

I am just starting in hound hunting and I have learned a lot of good from this site but I still prefer to get out and learn on my own however all the advice I have recieved on this site from all the experienced guys is greatly appreciated

[Warner5]

Hey Mark, good topic. One I had to ponder for a few day's. Guy's that have hunted enough. Have the experience they can fall back on If things dont go their way. I think get alot from this site.

Guy's that dont have the experience yet. Really need to pick a way and stick with it until it starts to click and works or they realize it isnt going to work for them(not someone else). Buy trial and error. All this trial and error = experience.

Its alright to listen and take advice but take it with a grain of salt, because the guy giving the advice is assuming you have enough experience to understand what he's trying to tell you. And his advice is just a best guess based off his experience with his own dogs, not yours.

I still think a bad day actually hunting your dogs, offers more experience than a good day talking about it on the computer. Their you go Mark, I think I hurt my brain. John.

[mondomuttruner]

Don't be so humble John, I think there's more knowledge in that brain than you care to admit to.
Oh, and btw, good post.........

[Warner5]

Thanks Mr. momdo. Although I wish my wife would see it that way at times, but she has her reasons. Me and the kids got onto a good string cheese and grilled cheese kick. Now no one's shit right for days around here. My bad. Have a good evening. John.

[BlazeNBrat]

You can learn from every houndmen and hound you meet, weather it be good or bad. Some houndsmen set bad examples and some are really good, same as the hounds. Get out there and learn! That's the fun of it, take everything in with an open mind. This is a great place to ask questions and read but still the best way to know how credible a houndsmen is is to hunt with him and his dogs.

[mark]

Well i have been doing a lot of thinking on it too, and after doing all of this thinking i finally came up with an answer to my own question. I find that all the input on here causes me to WAY over think this hound hunting. I use to just load em and head to the brush and only think about what i was seeing and hearing between my dogs and i. Now i find myself wondering what would the latest computer wizard and their dogs do in certain situations that arise for me. In short i start second guessing myself and i have never had much luck with that in any aspect of life. Just get yourself and your dogs in the woods every chance you have and pay attention. Its just cats and dogs. The one thing i know for sure is that any dog with some hunt in it will make a pretty nice dog if it has the hair hunted off of it. It may not suit everyone but it only has to suit you! You're right jon ..... This does hurt

[mondomuttruner]

I'm sure for most, just doing what your doing to be satisfied is fine, but for myself, and I'm sure many others, I strive to be the best at whatever I do and that can't happen without something to compare it to. Information on this forum is second to none and what you do with it is your choice.